The United States marks its 250th anniversary this year — a milestone that invites reflection not just on our founding ideals but on the practical systems that turned a young nation into the world’s most dynamic economy. Next year will mark another quieter but historically consequential anniversary: 200 years since the first American railroad began operating.

Together, those anniversaries tell a shared story about how the United States builds — through innovation, investment, and public policy that focuses on results rather than rhetoric.